The latest addition to the Air-Spaced Doublet AR Series is the very portable, grab-and-go 102mm!
Like its two larger brothers, the AR127, and the AR152, these are classic air-spaced, crown-and-flint, doublet achromatic refractors with superior-class optical figure, in a short (f/6.5) focal length design. These optics produce stunning images of deep sky objects, double stars, planets, and the moon that are a small fraction of the price of comparable aperture apochromat refractors.
Designed to handle the rigors of public star parties and educational outreach, the Explore Scientific AR Series has standard hardware which includes a precision two-speed focuser, a 99% Reflective 2-inch Diagonal Mirror, and an 8×50 Finder Scope. You can be confident that the quality and construction of these telescopes will allow heavy use for many years. The optics in their collimatable lens cell are fully multi-coated to eliminate light scatter and maintain image contrast. All lens cells are precisely collimated at the Explore Scientific factory, to give optimum performance. Although you may never need to adjust optical alignment the AR Series allows for collimating the lens set, should the telescope ever require it. The Explore Scientific Air-Spaced Doublet AR Series telescopes include a precision 2-inch two-speed as standard equipment. The eyepiece holder uses a compression ring to prevent the eyepiece or camera barrel from scoring. Perfect focus is easily achieved with the Explore Scientific Ten-to-One, Two-Speed Focuser.
On those pristine nights of steady seeing, Saturn’s Rings can forever affect the hearts and minds of almost anyone who lays eyes on them. It’s nights like these that astronomers like to set up their refractors and push the magnification to the limits, not only to see the magnificence of the planet at greater scale but to really test the optical and mechanical quality of the telescope. Many telescopes are only supplied with a standard single-speed focuser, you will find that a tiny nudge will throw out focus and turn your night into one of frustration. So all Explore Scientific AR Series telescopes include a two-speed Crayford-style precision focuser with tension adjustment and lock to obtain and hold perfect focus. We think you’ll agree that such precision is worth it.
The Universal Adjustable Mounting Plate of the AR 102 fits on many popular equatorial and Altaz mounts, including mounts supplied by Explore Scientific, Celestron, Vixen, and others.
Instead of using a cast metal part, Explore Scientific’s Universal Mounting Plate is made from extruded aluminum for added strength, it is after all what secures your telescope to the mount. We also include adjustment screws and locking bolts to allow adjustments to position the angle of the telescope when it is placed on its mount, an important feature when using an equatorial mount.
The Two-Inch Dielectric Diagonal includes a 1.25″ eyepiece holder adapter and dust cover to protect the mirror. The purpose of a diagonal is to securely hold your eyepiece and to give you a comfortable viewing angle. Provided as standard equipment, Explore Scientific’s Two Inch Dielectric Diagonal incorporates a light-weight, one-piece diagonal body that securely cradles the precision polished diagonal flat mirror, insuring precision alignment. Ultra-high reflective coatings (99% reflective) composed of multiple thin layers of dielectric material delivers maximum light output. Both 2″ and 1.25″ eyepiece holders use compression rings instead of a simple set-screw to more securely hold your valued eyepiece (or imaging device) and to minimise scoring of eyepiece barrels. You can thread standard 48mm filters into the barrel.
Provided as standard equipment, Explore Scientific’s Two Inch Diagonal incorporates a light-weight, one-piece diagonal body that securely cradles the precision polished diagonal flat mirror, insuring precision alignment.
The Explore Scientific 8×50 Finder Scope optics provide a bright high-resolution image so that many faint stars and nebulosity can be detected for precise aiming. The front objective can be custom focused to provide a sharp image every time.
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